The findings of MacDonell and Keith are similar to Witzel, and differ from Tambiah; they cite ancient Indian literature suggesting bridewealth was paid even in brahma- and daiva-types of marriage associated with the Brahmanic (priestly) upper caste. A 2005 Canadian documentary film, Runaway Grooms, exposed a phenomenon of Indo-Canadian men taking advantage of the dowry system. Section 406 IPC, pertaining to offences for the criminal breach of trust, applies in cases of recovery of dowry as it is supposed to be for the benefit of the woman and her heirs. Upper-class families are more likely to engage in the dowry system than the lower class. [51][52] Most dowry deaths occur when the young woman, unable to bear the harassment and torture, commits suicide by hanging herself or consuming poison. Dowry violence is usually perpetrated by the husband or the in-laws in a bid to extract a higher dowry from the bride's family. In 1956, India gave equal legal status to daughters and sons among Hindu, Sikh and Jain families, under the Hindu Succession Act (India grants its Muslim population the Sharia derived personal status laws). It is widespread among Hindus and other religions. [11], The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 consolidated the anti-dowry laws which had been passed on certain states. [63], The Act provides the penalty for directly or indirectly demanding dowry and provides for a penalty involving a prison term of not less than 6 months and extendable up to two years along with a fine of ₹10,000. [citation needed], The dowry system can put great financial burden on the bride's family. This is normal expenditure which is done willingly and varies from one family to another depending on the wealth, status, etc. Related to the system of dowry and as an outcome of it is the inhuman practice of Dowry … [62] The penalty for giving or taking dowry is not applicable in case of presents which are given at the time of marriage without any demand having been made. Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, "Arrest of police officer in unlawful detention under s 498A", "No arrests under anti-dowry law without magistrate's nod: SC", "Domestic Violence and Dowry: Evidence from a South Indian Village", "National Crime Statistics 2012 (p. 196), National Crime Statistics 2013 (p. 81)", "The Social Construction of 'Dowry Deaths, "Dowry Deaths (Bride Burning) in India and Abetment of Suicide: A Socio-Legal Appraisal", "Rising number of dowry deaths in India: NCRB", "Maintenance of Lists of Presents to the Bride and the Bridegroom Rules, 1985", "Amend dowry law to stop its misuse, SC tells govt", "Women Misusing India's Anti-Dowry Law, says Supreme Court", "Sushil Kumar Sharma vs Union Of India And Ors on 19 July, 2005", "Par Panel recommends review of Dowry Act", "Supreme Court judgment restricting automatic arrests in dowry cases well within the Constitution", "Abha Singh calls Supreme Court decision on Section 498A a landmark judgement", "Anti-dowry law likely to be amended soon", "Centre set to prevent misuse of anti-dowry harassment law", "All let off in Nisha Sharma dowry case after 9 years", "Rebel bride's dowry charge junked | Noida News - Times of India", "India's New Abuse Laws Still Miss the Mark", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dowry_system_in_India&oldid=992455346, Articles with dead external links from December 2016, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2019, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. [42], in Hinduism Recently married women can be a target for dowry related violence because she is tied economically and socially to her new husband. Various reasons have been suggested as cause of dowry practice in India. These include economic factors and social factors. [33][34] Women's education, income, and health are some significant factors that play into the dowry system, and for how much control a woman has over her marriage. Synonyms: portion, marriage settlement, dot [archaic], lobola [South Africa] More Synonyms of dowry Al-Biruni was an Islamic era Persian scholar who went and lived in India for 16 years from 1017 CE. [50], Dowry deaths and dowry murder relate to a bride's suicide or killing committed by her husband and his family soon after the marriage because of their dissatisfaction with the dowry. DOWRY" -the most hated word which is strong enough to make a person weak. "Dowry" in the sense of the expression contemplated by Dowry Prohibition Act is a demand for property of valuable security having an inextricable nexus with the marriage, i.e., it is a consideration from the side of the bride's parents or relatives to the groom or his parents and/or guardian for the agreement to wed the bride-to-be. 3. Dowry system is a practice of giving money or property or some kinds of special gifts at the marriage of a daughter by the father (sister by the brother) to bridegroom or bridegroom’s family. Additionally, the judiciary also includes a murder charge under Section 302 IPC as this allows courts to impose death penalty on perpetrators of the offence. Continues to prevail absent, or estate that a woman helpless and desperate, which keeps marriage inside or to! Prior domestic abuses by the husband or suicide attempts [ 86 ] welcomed. Continuing abuse by the husband system took the shape of dowry has evolved and Indian families no practice! 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